Inaugurated in 2020, Globe Life Field is the newest member to join the illustrious list of MLB stadiums. Home to MLB franchise the Texas Rangers, this beautiful new ballpark is built through a public-private joint venture that included the Arlington city council. This multipurpose sports venue represents the latest in the world of ballparks in its landscape, structure, interior, and facilities for baseball fans. The retractable roof makes games and events possible at Globe Life Field 365 days a year without any fear of rough or unpredictable weather.

The History

Globe Life Field is the third home of the Rangers in Texas. In 1972, the Washington Senators moved to Arlington and become the Texas Rangers. They started playing at Arlington Stadium for the next 21 years. In 1994, the Rangers moved to the then newly built Globe Life Park, now located immediately north of Globe Life Field.

The Texas Rangers felt the need for a more modern stadium as early as 2015. According to them, high-temperature days and rain often dissuade fans from watching live games in the old stadium. The Rangers declared to build one with a retractable roof and air-conditioning interior on May 20, 2016. More than 60% of voters in Arlington supported the move in a referendum six months later.

The Texas Ranger and the City of Arlington signed a joint venture and hired HKS, a well-known sports facilities designer. With a groundbreaking ceremony on September 28, 2017, the work on Globe Life Field began. It took about 30 months to complete MLB’s most modern ballpark.

The Rangers had the plan to inaugurate Globe Life Field on March 23, 2020. However, there was no MLB or baseball championship during that period following the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the stadium’s inaugural event was a graduation ceremony of Irving ISD’s Jack E. Singley Academy on May 29, 2020.

It has to wait until July 21, 2020, to host the first baseball exhibition game and July 24, 2020, to host the first MLB season game.

Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company has bought the naming rights until 2048.

Design and Features

The 5.5-acre retractable roof makes Globe Life Field unique among all American League baseball stadiums. With a weight of 24 million pounds, the roof is the world’s largest single-panel retractable stadium cover of its kind. Made from transparent ethylene tetrafluoroethylene polymer, the roof lets the sunlight reach every part of the ballpark. It takes 12 minutes to fully open.

Globe Life Field has many advantages over its older sibling. With a total area of 1.8 million square feet, the new baseball stadium exceeds Globe Life Park by 400,000 square feet. There are six gates to enter the ballpark. To ensure better player safety and improved performance, the stadium uses specially designed synthetic grass turf. Supported by a natural, sustainable infill, it ensures excellent surface interaction during games.

All 40,300 seats in the stadium are designed in a way that each of them offers a perfect viewing experience. Globe Life Field also has MLB’s best premium seating facilities with over 71 Classic Suites, 12 Field Suites, and 16 Party Suites. The baseball stadium has many vantage points enabling fans enchanting views of both games and the outer periphery. A walk along the main course and viewpoints on the upper concourse allows a 360-degree view of the ballpark.

The concession area at Globe Life Field includes air-conditioned club areas and lounges. It has some of the finest eateries in Arlington. There is are separate areas of relaxation for premium ticket holders.

Purely Baseball Things To Know

• The inaugural MLB game at Globe Life Field saw the Texan Rangers beating the Colorado Rookies 1-0.
• The baseball stadium was shared host for the 2020 National League Division Series played with “COVID-free bubbles.” Minute Maid Park was the other host ballpark.
• It also hosted the National League Championship and the World Series in 2020.
• The ballpark’s center field faces northeast, a unique feature among MLB venues, as all other baseball stadiums have southeast-facing center fields.
• The field dimensions honor the legends and great moments in the history of the Texas Rangers. For instance, the left-field inside line is 334 feet and dedicated to pitcher Nolan Ryan, who was the No. 34. At 407 feet, the center field honors retired Rangers’ No 7 Ivan Rodriguez. At 374 feet, the right-field power alley remembers the 1974 winning season of the home team when they arrived in Arlington.
• Joe Musgrove of the San Diego Padres is the first to throw a no-hitter at Globe Life Field on April 9, 2021, against the Rangers. Yankee Corey Kluber no-hit the Ranger on May 19 that year to repeat the feat.
• Globe Life Field is the third baseball stadium to host the Texas Rangers. The other two were Arlington Stadium, which later become Rangers Ballpark, and Globe Life Park.
• The ballpark opted for B1K dual fiber turf to field durability as well as to create the best performing baseball surface. Extensive data and scientific research led to the choice of its turf, which uses coconut husks and fibers to infill.
• It has a seven-level seating with 40,300 seats built with an objective to ensure fans stay “closer to the action from every seat.” There are interesting vantage points and the best premium seating options in the MLB.

Non-Baseball Events

• Globe Life Field hosted 49 graduation ceremonies of 18 different districts before holding the first baseball game.
• It was the venue for the 2020 National Finals Rodeo.
• The baseball stadium had its first college football game between Army and Air Force in November 2021.